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Bluegrass Legend Jimmy Martin Dies
billboard.com ^
| Chris Morris
Posted on 05/16/2005 6:43:59 PM PDT by T. Buzzard Trueblood
May 16, 2005, 10:30 AM ET
Jimmy Martin, one of the greatest vocalists in bluegrass, died Saturday (May 14) in a Nashville hospice where he was battling bladder cancer. He was 77.
In 1949, Martin replaced Mac Wiseman in Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, the premier bluegrass group, and served as the group's guitarist and lead vocalist until 1954. His tenor vocals were featured on many of the Monroe band's recordings for Decca -- perhaps most memorably on the gospel sides collected in 1969 on "A Voice From on High."
After recording with the Osborne Brothers in the mid-'50s, Martin founded his own group, the Sunny Mountain Boys. This band, which included such leaders in their own right as J.D. Crowe and Doyle Lawson, recorded such bluegrass standards as "Rock Hearts," "Widow Maker" and "The Sunny Side of the Mountain."
In 1972, Martin joined such other country and bluegrass legends as Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff and Earl Scruggs on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's album "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," a landmark merger of rock and country talent. In the early 1980s, Martin founded his own label, King of Bluegrass.
The oft-irascible musician was profiled in Tom Piazza's 1999 book "True Adventures With the King of Bluegrass" and George Goehl's 2003 film "King of Bluegrass: The Life & Times of Jimmy Martin."
Martin's funeral will be held Wednesday at the Cornerstone Church in Madison, Tenn.
-- Chris Morris, The Hollywood Reporter
TOPICS: Announcements; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: bluegrassmusic; jimmymartin; nashville; notbreakingnews; obituary; sneedville; tennessee
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I have no idea what Jimmy Martin's politics (if any) were, but I suspect the man was a patriot.
He was the greatest lead singer in Bluegrass music, IMHO and a first-rate entertainer. He also played some of the tastiest, most hard-driving rhythm guitar around. He was a uniquely American artist, true country, and Bluegrass all the way. I'm at a loss here trying to write something worthy of the man and his work.
If you like Bluegrass or country music and you haven't heard Jimmy Martin, I urge you to check him out.
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood; mylife
2
posted on
05/16/2005 6:45:39 PM PDT
by
StarCMC
(Free tagline courtesy of JesseJane!)
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood
Is Doc Watson still kickin'?
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood
4
posted on
05/16/2005 6:47:13 PM PDT
by
tet68
( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood
Bluegrass = musical nirvana
Rest in peace, Jimmy.
5
posted on
05/16/2005 6:47:27 PM PDT
by
Wage Slave
(All problems can be solved with duct tape or violence.)
To: Senator Pardek
Is Doc Watson still kickin'? Yup. He is.
6
posted on
05/16/2005 6:48:14 PM PDT
by
don-o
(Don't be a Freeploader. Do the right thing and become a Monthly Donor!)
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood; Congressman Billybob
"Sunny Side of the Mountain" ping
7
posted on
05/16/2005 6:49:07 PM PDT
by
okie01
(The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
To: Senator Pardek
Doc Watson is still Kickin and performing Live
8
posted on
05/16/2005 6:49:12 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood
We'll miss you, sir.
9
posted on
05/16/2005 6:49:15 PM PDT
by
T. Buzzard Trueblood
("Bush is doing practically nothing to prevent hurricanes." Environmentalist Aimee Christensen)
To: Senator Pardek
Is Doc Watson still kickin'?To my knowledge, still kickin', still pickin'.
10
posted on
05/16/2005 6:50:38 PM PDT
by
T. Buzzard Trueblood
("Bush is doing practically nothing to prevent hurricanes." Environmentalist Aimee Christensen)
To: StarCMC
Another Great ... gone
Im happy to report that there are many yung uns that are keeping the sound alive and true
RIP Jimmy, RIP Bill
11
posted on
05/16/2005 6:50:41 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood
Many of these bluegrass musicians are lefties. Though I do admit that bluegrass is not as bad as folk, progressive rock or jazz.
Let's be honest, Country Music is the most ideologically reliable of the major musical forms.
12
posted on
05/16/2005 6:50:52 PM PDT
by
Teplukin
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood
I have no idea what Jimmy Martin's politics (if any) were, but I suspect the man was a patriot. Like all the old timers, like Bill, Ralph, Mac, Lester, Earl - Jimmy is a simple man. Never got above their raising - which is the secret of success.
Rest in Peace.
13
posted on
05/16/2005 6:52:08 PM PDT
by
don-o
(Don't be a Freeploader. Do the right thing and become a Monthly Donor!)
To: mylife
Yeppers! I went looking and didn't find any of his music yet - was gonna post a song over here... You got any?
14
posted on
05/16/2005 6:52:25 PM PDT
by
StarCMC
(Free tagline courtesy of JesseJane!)
To: don-o
Like all the old timers, like Bill, Ralph, Mac, Lester, Earl - Jimmy is a simple man. Never got above their raising - which is the secret of success.Amen to that.
Rest in Peace, Jimmy.
15
posted on
05/16/2005 6:54:50 PM PDT
by
T. Buzzard Trueblood
("Bush is doing practically nothing to prevent hurricanes." Environmentalist Aimee Christensen)
To: StarCMC
Just play any Bill Monroe tunes and youve got Jimmy!
16
posted on
05/16/2005 6:55:48 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood
He was "Mr. High & Lonesome."
Rest in that Peaceful Valley.
17
posted on
05/16/2005 6:56:34 PM PDT
by
Khurkris
(This tag-line is available on CD ROM. NRA.)
To: mylife
Just play any Bill Monroe tunes and youve got Jimmy!Jimmy and Big Mon did a version of "In the Pines" that is as good as music ever gets.
18
posted on
05/16/2005 7:00:25 PM PDT
by
T. Buzzard Trueblood
("Bush is doing practically nothing to prevent hurricanes." Environmentalist Aimee Christensen)
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood
This isnt even close to Bill and Jimmys sound but somehow I think theyd approve.
The Waybacks Turkish Stalemate
19
posted on
05/16/2005 7:02:19 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: T. Buzzard Trueblood
Thanks for posting.
Rest in peace, Jimmy.
20
posted on
05/16/2005 7:05:01 PM PDT
by
RedRover
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